The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-09-01
HANCOCK, THE SUPERB:
"reminiscences by His Wife Of q Brilliant Military
Career.

"reminiscences by His Wife Of Brilliant Military
Career.
Messrs. Charles l.. Webster & Co.,
publishers of &c eneral Grants Mem
oirs" and "McClellan's Own Story
publish the "reminiscences of Winfield
Scott Hancock" by his wife. The in
terest of the book is personal rather
than historical. General Hancock
took conspicuous part in many
dramas OF national Importance; but
his biographer lone might almost
say his autobiagrapher, so completely
was Mrs. Hancock life identified with
her husband's) has described the
scenes in which he acted with such
distinction and narrated the events
which led to them, with just
sufficient fullness to make the Gen
erals relations to them clear and
throw light upon his character.
The "reminiscences" begins with
the marriage of the writer to General
Hancock at the residence of her father.
Mr.. Samuel Russell, in st. Louis, jan
uary "a, 1850.
In chapter 4 Mrs. Hancock describes
vividly the discomtorts to which she
was necessarily subjected at Fort
Meyers, Florida, during the trouble
with the seminoles in 1856.
When the troubles in Florida were
settled General Harvey was trans
ferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kan,
where disturbances were expected.
Hancock, who by this time had be-
come a captain, joined him there,
serving in the quartermaster's depart
ment until March 81, 1858, when he
was ordered to accompany General
Harney's expedition to Utah, where
complication had arisen be-
tween the Mormans and the
Gentiles. At the close Hancock was
ordered to repeat to Colonel An
drews, commanding at Fort Bridger.
"From Fort Leavenworth to Fort
Bridger the distance is 1000 miles,"
says Mrs. Hancock; ''fron Fort Bridg-
er to Benecia, CAL, Lilo; total dis
tance, 2,128 miles, and this was cover
ed by Hancock on muleback."
On arriving at Benecia Captain
Hancock found awaiting him leave
OF absence and returned to the East,
by way of the Isthmus, for the pur-
pose of escorting his family back to
the Pacific coast. A period of two
months was delightfully."- spent in
Washington. Mrs. Hancock digresses
a little to describe this sojourn:
''Nfiss Harriet Lane, mistress OF the
White House, with her personal
charms and courtly manners was q
universal favorite, and did great cred
it to Mr.. Buchanan's administration.
Mrs. DAVIS, wife of the Secretary Of
war, Jefferson Davis, whom well re-
member, was endowed with many re-
markable qualities that made her
eminently fitted to be a presiding
genius. and her entertainments
brought together the most cultivated
class of Washington society. Mrs.
Joe Johnston was another shining
light in that great capital, person
Of unusual intelligence and quick at
| repartee, which made her most fascin-
ating in conversation. Her charm
ing reunions are long to be remember
ed by those who were admitted with
In this charmed circle. How
we'll remember General Robert E.
Lee, then major, who was stationed
there at that time. He was the beau
ideal of a soldier and q gentleman.
When bidding us goodbye and god
speed upon the eve of our departure,
| he said to me: Il understand that you
| contemplate DESERVING your post, which
is by your husbands side, and that
| ~ - M 81 n;c vrxS< y
him. II you will pardon me, Ishould
like to give you little advice. You
must not think OF doing this. As one
considerably older than Hancock, and
having had greater experience, I con-
slider it fatal to the future happiness
OF young married people, upon small
provocation, to live apart, either for
q short or long time. The result is
! invariably that they cease to be es.
sential to each other. Now promise
me that you will not permit him to
sail without you.' The sequel shows
! how faithfully l sought to follow that
noble mans admonition. and how Oft
en- In my varied experience had oc-
casion to transmit to others his dis
interested, truthful convictions.
With many regrets we bade adieu to
p host OF friends, most OF whom l
never saw again. Not 80 with my
| husband, however. He met them
face to face on the battlefield 10 less
than three years."
| After crossing the Isthmus Of Pan
anna Captain Handbook and his
wife embarked on the Golden Gate
tor San Francisco. There were /, 75O